More reforms needed to end labour woes

 

Irene Xavier, Labour Law Reform Coalition co-chairperson, called on relevant stakeholders to ratify or support the ratification of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190.

PETALING JAYA: The government needs to bring about more labour reforms to end problems like exploitative work hours, poor salaries and human rights violations, especially those involving migrant workers.

Malaysia’s Labour Law Reform Coalition (LLRC) says the labour reforms have to be comprehensive with amendments made to the Industrial Relations Act 1967 being a step in the right direction.

In a statement, it said the government must take the next step to table and pass amendments to the Trade Union Act 1959 and the Employment Act 1955.

LLRC co-chairperson N Gopal Kishnam said that, “amendments to the Trade Union Act are key because it is interlocked with the Industrial Relations Act.

“Without amending the Trade Union Act, trade unions cannot enjoy the new parameters of freedom of association partially guaranteed under Industrial Relations amendments.”

Regarding the Employment Act 1955, LLRC said changes must be made to include non-exploitative work hours, broadening the salary ranges governed by the law, including domestic work and enhancing the protection of migrant workers to prevent human rights violations.

LLRC co-chairperson Irene Xavier called on the government and relevant stakeholders to “ratify or support the ratification of the International Labour Organization’s Convention 190 to curb violence and harassment in the workplace in the next International Labour Conference in June 2021.”

They said that comprehensive labour reform was needed if Malaysia is to increase labour share of income from 35.7% in 2018 to the 48% target set out in its Shared Prosperity Vision 2030, and that any delay would hamper the country’s ability to meet this goal.

Earlier this week, Human Resources Minister M Saravanan said amendments to the Industrial Relations Act 1967, which came into effect today, would improve the protection of workers’ rights.

The amendments include abolishing punishment for picketing and strikes, repealing the minister’s power to refer representations on dismissal cases to the Industrial Court and giving this power to the director-general, allowing a worker’s next-of-kin to continue Industrial Court proceedings, among others. - FMT